They stood together, in what seemed to be a never ending queue. The twenty minutes which had already passed felt more like several hours. No words were spoken, there was no need. Silence had never been uncomfortable between them, at least not lately.
Emily looked around her, taking in the hustle and bustle of people hurrying onwards. It was a peculiar mix of formal looking business men and women, families with excited, hyper and probably tired children and couples on their way to share an adventure.
The atmosphere was both buzzing and thrilling, but also somewhat calm. For some people this was every day life, nothing out of the ordinary. These people looked professional and unmoved by the commotion surrounding them.
Other people where there, maybe for the first time ever. These were the ones you could hear talking excitedly about what was to come.
Emily had always loved to people watch, it always relaxed and excited her at the same time. Sometimes though it took her on a path she would usually avoid. Those times her attention would be caught by families, young couples with babies or toddlers especially.
She didn't like to admit it, but lately her heart would skip a beat at the sight of a little baby girl asleep in a stroller or a boy trying to kick around a football with the aid of his father.
Suddenly realising that she had let her mind wander too far, Emily turned her gaze to a group of young people. Teenagers should be a safe topic, she thought to herself as her mind switched to analyzing mode.
The group consisted of about twenty five boys and girls of about fifteen years of age. Three adults stood nearby talking amongst eachother while also keeping an eye on the kids.
Emily couldn't help notice how the usual teenage behaviour stuck out. A group of seven girls had gathered to one side and were giggling and chatting vividly. Topics were discussed such as the amounts of pocket money they'd received from their parents to use on this trip or what popular guy they'd kissed at the latest school dance.
Every girl in that group looked like they could be on the cover of vogue and they seemed to know exactly how great they looked in their designer clothes, showing confidence with every move.
Other groups had formed too. Emily realised how cliché it was, but nevertheless, to the right the "popular girls" was five boys sitting on the floor with either a laptop, a fancy looking mobile or an Ipod. This was unmistakably the "nerds"
The jocks were having an arm wrestling contest farthest away from the adults, the creative and musical kids were dancing and singing songs and getting embarrassed looks from the popular girls.
The last group of kids, despite being the quietest, was the one that stood out the most to Emily. You couldn't really call it a group though. They weren't standing together, they weren't even talking to each other.
It seemed like they shunned all attention. They all went to a place deep inside them selves and their obvious wish to be anywhere but the situation they were in made them seem almost invisible.
Emily's eyes went to a girl sitting on the floor against the wall near the adults. She had long dark hair pulled back in a pony tail. Her blue eyes were shiny with tears and her body hunched forward hugging her knees. She looked so sad, it made Emily's heart cry out for her.
Watching her silently Matt noticed the sombre expression on Emily's face. She looked distressed, almost in pain.
"Emily?" Matt said questioning.
Jolted out of her reverie Emily jumped at Matt's voice beside her. She looked at him, a lonely tear running down her cheek.
"Oh Em, my sweet Em" Matt said softly as he took her in his arms and held her tight until he could feel her relax.